Then, as the very last bite was taken of the apple, she added, ’I’ll hear some more of your stories first.  I want to hear one now.  Sally White told me at school you know all about fairies.’

Teddy nodded impressively, then said slowly, ’I make believe I do, but I don’t make believe father’s story.’

‘Tell me a story now.’

Teddy clasped his hands round a bough, and with knitted brows considered.  Then he looked up, and the light sparkled in his eyes.

’Shall I tell you about when I went into an oak-tree, and found a little door leading down some steps that took me to the goblin’s cave?’

This sounded enchanting, and Nancy eagerly prepared herself to listen.  Such a story was then poured out that it held her spell-bound.  Goblins, elves, and fairies, underground glories, thrilling adventures and escapes.  Was it any wonder that with such a gift for story-telling Teddy was the king of the village?  It came to an end at last, and Nancy drew a long breath of relief and content when she heard the concluding sentence, ’And I quickly opened the little door, and there I was outside the oak, and safe in the wood again.’

‘Button-boy, I do like you,’ she asserted, with a quick little nod of her head.  ‘Will you tell me another story soon?’

‘P’raps I will,’ said Teddy, feeling a little elated that he was gaining supremacy over her, ’but I’m going home now.  I only came out to have a think, and to make friends with you.’

‘What made you come and make it up?’ the little maiden asked, as after a scramble down, they stood at the foot of the tree.  ’You said something about your Captain; who is He?’

‘Jesus Christ,’ Teddy replied reverently, ’and His banner is love, so I have to love everybody, whether I like them or not.’

‘Why?’

‘Because He wants me to, and I’m one of His soldiers now.’

‘Has Jesus any sailors?’

The question was put suddenly, and the answer was given with a slight air of superiority, ‘No only soldiers He has.’

’Then I don’t want to belong to Him.  I believe He has sailors just as well as soldiers, only you’re not telling true.’

Her tone was getting wrathful, but Teddy shook his head solemnly.  ’I’m sure there’s nothing about Jesus’ sailors in the Bible; but I’ll ask mother, and then I’ll tell you.  I must go home now.  Good-bye.  We’re going to be friends?’

‘Yes, we’re going to be friends,’ she repeated; and then away they scampered in different directions, Nancy calling out, like a true little woman, ‘But I shan’t really love you till you give me your button.’

CHAPTER V

First Victories

‘Please, sir, may I speak to you?’

Mr. Upton was coming out of church after a choir practice, when Teddy accosted him.

He smiled when he saw the boy.  ’You may walk home with me and speak to me as much as you like.’